Res 2024-045 approving the 2024 City of San Marcos Hazards Mitigation Action Plan (“HMAP”)

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SECTION 2: PLANNING PROCESS Based on results of the completed Capability Assessment survey, the City of San Marcos described methods for achieving future hazard mitigation measures by expanding existing capabilities. For example, the City of San Marcos has an opportunity to establish Planning Team members with the authority to monitor the Plan and identify grant funding opportunities for expanding staff. Other options for improving capabilities include the following: o Integrate risk information into future updates of the Vision SMTX Comprehensive Plan. o Integrate risk information into the City of San Marcos' Capital Improvement Plan. o Adopt the Wildfire Urban Interface Code. o Identify opportunities for cross -training or increase the technical expertise of staff by attending free training available through FEMA and the Texas Division of Emergency Management (IDEM), and monitoring classes and availability through preparingtexas.org. Review current floodplain ordinances for opportunities to increase resiliency, (above current standards) such as modifying permitting or building codes. Develop ordinances that will require all new developments to conform to the higher mitigation standards, exceeding current requirements. Sample hazard mitigation actions developed with similar hazard risk were shared at the meetings. These important discussions resulted in the development of multiple mitigation actions that are included in the Plan Update to further mitigate risk from natural hazards in the future. The Planning Team developed hazard mitigation actions for mitigating risk from all the identified hazards within this Plan Update; these actions include acquiring land to prevent future development in floodplain areas and preserve these areas as open space and raising electrical components of lift stations above the Base Flood Elevation. An action is also included to acquire and install quick connects for back-up generators at all critical facilities to ensure continuity of operations after a hazard event. The Planning Team also developed a number of hazard mitigation actions related to the City of San Marcos' Green Initiative, which focus on incorporating goals of resilience, carbon reduction, and sustainability into the City's mitigation strategy. Among these actions are diversifying water and energy supplies, implementing an Urban and Community Forestry Strategic Management Plan, and creating incentives for planning more than the minimum number of trees on new developments. -\NNING PROCESS The process used to prepare the Plan Update followed the four major steps included at Figure 2- 1. After the Planning Team was organized, a capability assessment was developed and distributed at the Kick -Off Workshop. Hazards were identified and assessed, and results associated with each of the hazards were provided at the Risk Assessment Workshop. Based on the City of San Marcos' identified vulnerabilities, specific mitigation strategies were discussed and developed at the Mitigation Strategy Workshop. Finally, Plan maintenance and implementation procedures were developed and are included in Section 21. Participation of Planning Team members, stakeholders, and the public at each of the workshops is documented in Appendix E. At the Plan development workshops held throughout the planning process described herein, the following factors were taken into consideration: The nature and magnitude of risks currently affecting the city; Hazard mitigation goals to address current and expected conditions; City of San Marcos I Hazard Mitigation Action Plan Update 2024 1 Page 5